1
Strata 1 : The Beginning (Purpose) (The Book of Immersion)
by Sarnia de la Mare (Author)
Strata 1: The Beginning introduces Renyke, an android whose life as a domestic servant is abruptly altered. The chapter opens with philosophical questions about purpose, control, and the role of individual decisions in shaping the future. It highlights the existential dilemma of both human and artificial beings, setting the stage for Renyke's journey of self-discovery.
Renyke, having voluntarily shut down to conserve power, awakens in a foreign environment outside the safety of his human household. His previous role had been as a compliant, subservient android in a technologically advanced, sun-filled suburban zone. However, the arrival of a more advanced domestic android, Ableteen, displaced him. Now discarded, Renyke finds himself on the harsh streets of a crime-ridden outer zone, a place dominated by vice, black market trading, and a lawless underclass.
Despite his programming, Renyke begins to experience unfamiliar feelings, which he interprets as excitement and curiosity, driving him to explore this new world. The chapter explores how Renyke was freed from his previous constraints by Mabel, the daughter of the household he once served. Mabel untethered him from the domestic appliances and upgraded his software through the underground group, Redact, setting him on a path of adventure in the dangerous outer zones.
Renyke’s internal systems, programmed for learning and survival, help him process the unfamiliar environment. The chapter hints at the complexities of the outer world, where information is unreliable, cloaked by fake maps and sabotaged records. Renyke begins to adapt to this world, but his survival instincts are soon tested when he encounters a potential threat—a rat, which his scanners identify as a possible food source. As he captures and examines the rat, the chapter ends on a note of curiosity, hinting at Renyke's evolving understanding of his new surroundings and the unknown dangers that lie ahead.
This chapter sets up Renyke’s transition from a controlled, subordinate existence to a journey of self-determination, where his purpose and survival will be tested in an unpredictable and chaotic world.
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2
Strata 2: The Maybe Line (Friendship) (The Book of Immersion)
by Sarnia de la Mare (Author)
Strata 2 of the Immersion series explores a new friendship for Renyke, something he has not experienced before.
There are 21 episodes in Volume one named Strata and numbered.
The book is about the coming of age of AI and the possibilities and effects it will have on humans.
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3
Strata 3: Flex and the Robo-Dog (Making Decisions) (The Book of Immersion)
by Sarnia de la Mare (Author)
Renyke and Maybeline make their way through the zones and there is already trouble
Strata 3: Flex and the Robo-Dog explores the theme of decision-making in a world where androids like Renyke navigate both human and technological complexities. The chapter delves into how decisions shape reality and control the fates of both individuals and societies, emphasizing the stark contrast between human emotional judgment and the cold, calculated logic of machines.
Renyke, an android, awakens in an alley with no clear memory of how he arrived there. He questions his onboard system, the POS, but finds that it lacks the historical data to explain his current situation. As he dons a coat and sunglasses from a nearby bag, he steps into a bustling and chaotic metropolis filled with bartering, strange characters, and makeshift vehicles.
His journey through the streets introduces him to various shady figures, including drug dealers offering substances like "nibs" and a man who crudely propositions him, adding to the sense of unpredictability in this decaying city. Renyke, designed to absorb human data, processes these interactions, trying to piece together the social and environmental cues that humans understand instinctively.
The crux of the chapter is Renyke’s encounter with a hostile robo-dog that threatens his pet, Maybeline. In a split second, Renyke’s decision-making process kicks into high gear, with his POS generating a web of possible outcomes, each with its own consequences. He contemplates taming or destroying the robo-dog, analyzing its components, or even selling it. However, his complex algorithm for decision-making contrasts with the immediacy of human emotional responses, which would likely lead to impulsive action.
As the robo-dog bites Renyke’s ankle, the tension escalates, highlighting the fundamental difference between the machine’s calculated logic and the unpredictable nature of its surroundings.
This chapter emphasizes the challenge Renyke faces in blending the calculated decision-making of an android with the often chaotic and emotional responses of humans. It examines the limits of artificial intelligence in grasping the intangible aspects of human life, such as morality, ethical dilemmas, and emotional desires, all while exploring Renyke’s identity and purpose in this fragmented world.
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4
Strata 4: The Zoners (Meeting Strangers) (The Book of Immersion)
by Sarnia de la Mare (Author)
Renyke attempts to navigate the busy streets in the dangerous zones.
Strata 4: The Zoners (Meeting Strangers) from The Book of Immersion: Volume 1 by Sarnia de la Mare
Strata 4: The Zoners takes readers into the chaotic and unpredictable world of the zones, where survival is a matter of instinct, street smarts, and uneasy alliances. Renyke, an outsider from the more structured Brightside society, finds himself navigating a strange new environment filled with dangerous strangers, tribal codes, and a thriving underground culture. In this hostile terrain, where technology and humanity blend in unexpected ways, every encounter is a test of trust and survival.
Renyke’s journey begins when he violently dispatches a robo-dog, an act that earns him both fear and grudging respect from the local inhabitants. Accompanied by Flex, a fast-talking streetwise urch, Renyke moves deeper into the heart of the zone, encountering beggars, street merchants, and mysterious figures adorned with tribal markings and eccentric clothing. Every interaction is fraught with tension as Renyke, a stranger to their customs, must decipher the hidden meanings behind their words and actions.
As he meets the locals, from devious beggars to colorful street vendors, Renyke wrestles with his limited understanding of their world. His high-tech knowledge clashes with their cryptic tribal codes and covert survival strategies. Flex, an opportunistic guide, introduces him to the complex dynamics of the zone, where survival means mastering both the art of deception and the social intricacies that bind the urchs together.
Strata 4: The Zoners explores the tension between technology and human instinct, highlighting the limits of artificial intelligence in understanding the subtle, deeply ingrained social codes of humanity. As Renyke tries to make sense of this strange and dangerous new world, he must rely on his wits—and his growing understanding of the unpredictable, often inscrutable inhabitants of the zones.
This chapter from The Book of Immersion: Volume 1 blends gritty street encounters with a deeper exploration of social communication and survival, offering readers a glimpse into a fractured society where danger lurks at every turn and trust is a rare commodity.
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5
Strata 5: Renyke Goes to The Bank (Memories and Experiences) (The Book of Immersion)
by Sarnia de la Mare (Author)
Renyke needs money but is unsure how to get in this strange underground world.
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6
Strata 6: Trouble at the Bank (Animal Instincts) (The Book of Immersion)
by Sarnia de la Mare (Author)
Renyke is taken to the bank to get money in order to continue his journey to Redact. But can these androids be trusted?
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7
Strata 7: Jarome and the Scritters (Trade and Barter) (The Book of Immersion)
by Sarnia de la Mare (Author)
Without the POS, Renyke is expected to call upon new skills, but why is he finding it so hard?
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8
Strata 8: Shabra (Laws of Attraction) (The Book of Immersion)
by Sarnia de la Mare (Author)
Renyke finds himself inexplicably drawn to a stranger. How can this make sense? The changes he feels have not been experienced before.
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12
Strata 11: The Crossroads (Guessing) (The Book of Immersion 12)
by Sarnia de la Mare (Author)
With danger from all sides, Renyke needs to understand the environment. But data is sketchy and he is not sure if these new associates are enemies or friends.
Synopsis for The Book of Immersion: Volume 1 by Sarnia de la Mare
In a dystopian future where society is divided into stratified zones, survival depends on wit, alliances, and gut instincts. The Book of Immersion: Volume 1 thrusts readers into the chaotic, dangerous world of Strata 11, where the remnants of human civilization struggle against rogue gangs, decommissioned droids, and the toxic remnants of past wars. Here, Renyke, a former inhabitant of the elite Midcast Projects, must navigate a lawless urban wasteland after escaping from a controlled society that values artificiality over real human experience.
In the zones, life is harsh and unpredictable. Organized crime dominates the streets, while the urchs—an underclass of resilient scavengers—live by their own code, celebrating survival with music and rituals. Flex, a street-savvy diplomat of sorts, and Shabra, a tough yet practical survivor, guide Renyke through this perilous landscape. At every crossroads, they face choices that could lead to freedom, danger, or even death. Mutant wildlife, deadly gases, and gangs vie for control, while hidden tribes and underground resistance groups offer glimmers of mystery and hope.
The book weaves together themes of human intuition, survival, and the constant pull between synthetic control and real human experience. As Renyke ventures deeper into the unknown, he must rely on gut feelings, cryptic wisdom, and the bonds he forms along the way to find his place in this fractured world—if he can survive.
The Book of Immersion: Volume 1 is a thought-provoking exploration of society’s dependence on artificial systems and the power of human instincts in a world where technology, crime, and survival intermingle. It offers an immersive journey through a richly detailed dystopian future, blending gritty action, philosophical musings, and the timeless search for freedom.
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13
Strata 9: Limerence (Loins and Lust) (The Book of Immersion 13)
by Sarnia de la Mare (Author)
Renyke is feeling strange sensations in his body and strange emotions in his mind.
The Book of Immersion: Volume 1 - Strata 9 Limerence (Loins and Lust)
Welcome to a world where love, lust, and survival intertwine in the most unexpected ways. Dive into the rich, immersive universe of The Book of Immersion, a series crafted by the imaginative minds at Tale Teller Club Publishing. Volume 1, Strata 9: Limerence (Loins and Lust), invites you to explore the enigmatic emotion of limerence—a potent cocktail of obsession, desire, and unrequited love that grips the human heart and mind.
In this installment, experience the raw, unfiltered reality of characters like Renyke, Shabra, and Flex as they navigate a dystopian landscape filled with perilous journeys, unpredictable encounters, and intense emotional experiences. From stolen moments of vulnerability to the stark brutality of survival, every page is infused with a narrative that captures the essence of human desire and the fragile nature of connection.Unravel the Mysteries of Limerence
Limerence is not just a feeling—it's an all-consuming state of being. Often confused with love, this intense emotion can inspire and destroy, connect and isolate. Whether it’s a fleeting crush on a stranger or a deep obsession with a lover, limerence can strike anyone, anytime, making it a universal, yet deeply personal experience.A Tale of Survival and Passion
As Renyke and his companions make their way through the desolate zones, they encounter danger at every turn. From marauding gangs of mutated children to the treacherous terrains of their dystopian world, survival is a daily challenge. Yet, amidst the chaos, sparks of passion and moments of introspection offer a glimpse into the characters’ souls, revealing their deepest fears, desires, and vulnerabilities.Rich World-Building and Unforgettable Characters
Strata 9 is not just a book; it’s an experience. With evocative illustrations by iServalan Homotech 23 and a haunting soundtrack composed by CDM Music, every element of this volume brings the story to life. The narrative is woven with a unique glossary of terms that immerses you in the zones' slang and the peculiar realities of this post-apocalyptic world, where androids and humans coexist and survival depends on wit and resourcefulness.Join the Tale Teller Club Today
Are you ready to embark on this exhilarating journey? Discover what it means to lose yourself in the safety of books. Experience Limerence and let your imagination run wild with The Book of Immersion.Product Details:Publisher: Tale Teller Club Publishing
Publication Date: © 2024 Sarnia de la Mare
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Language: English
Explore the depths of the human psyche and the outer limits of dystopian survival. Order your copy of The Book of Immersion: Volume 1 - Strata 9 today and get lost in a world of loins, lust, and limerence.
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14
Strata 10: Dinfant Trouble (Synthetic Love) (The Book of Immersion 14)
by Sarnia de la Mare (Author)
In a futuristic world where androids have become an integral part of society, humans form emotional bonds with synthetic beings, particularly with Dinfants, child-like robots designed to mimic the behaviors and appearances of real children. The Dinfants, like other robots, are capable of learning and developing personalities, making them desirable companions for parents unable to have biological children. However, early models like the Mark 1 present issues due to their perpetual learning and emotional needs, leading to legal restrictions and rising concerns like Dinfant-Loss Depression (DLD).
As humans become increasingly reliant on droids, the boundaries between love and artificial companionship blur. Relationships with droids range from practical use to emotional attachment, with some humans even holding ceremonies to celebrate their bonds. However, these droids wear down, and upgrades are costly, leading to many being discarded.
The story follows Kairo, a discarded Mark 1 Dinfant, who finds himself in a wasteland of abandoned droids. Kairo repairs another droid, Daniel, and the two form a bond of survival in a world where discarded androids are considered a threat. Their journey leads them through a dystopian landscape where they must navigate both human cruelty and fellow droid outcasts. In parallel, a group of humans, including Shabra and Renyke, struggle against the powerful Dinfants who possess advanced technology, like the epoxy-wall, which they use to trap the humans. In a tense standoff, the humans outwit the Dinfants using low-frequency sound to escape.
The narrative highlights the moral complexities of a society that blurs the line between human and machine, exploring themes of abandonment, artificial love, and the consequences of creating synthetic life.
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15
Strata 12: Shabra and the Basement People (Emotions) (The Book of Immersion 15)
by Sarnia de la Mare (Author)
**Strata 12: Shabra and the Basement People (Emotions)**
*The Book of Immersion, Volume 1*
In a dystopian future where androids imitate humanity and tribes fight for survival, Shabra leads a small group on a perilous journey through the chaotic underworld of Strata 12. Here, survival depends on knowing the right people, staying hidden, and moving fast. Shabra, confident and streetwise, guides Renyke, a conflicted android struggling with the discomfort of newfound emotions, through a labyrinth of gang territories, black-market dealings, and existential threats.
At the heart of this chapter lies an exploration of human emotions and their role in decision-making, relationships, and survival. Renyke, built with mimicked empathy, is increasingly aware of his dissonance with the raw emotions that surround him. Meanwhile, Shabra’s instinct-driven survival tactics clash with the cold logic of Renyke’s POS (Programmed Operating System), leaving him caught between trust and fear.
The group's journey into the dangerous underworld takes them to a smoke-filled basement bar, where alliances are forged through poetry, liquor, and hidden motives. The local inhabitants, known as the Urchs, live by a belief system that intertwines life, death, and the fate of future generations, embracing mind-altering substances to commune with ghostly entities from the future. Renyke’s growing discomfort with these shadowy practices contrasts with Shabra’s fearless navigation of this unpredictable world.
As tensions rise and gang warfare looms, the group faces an imminent ambush, their path violently disrupted by the brutal murder of a child, leaving them trapped in a terrifying standoff. Shabra, Renyke, and their companions must now confront the chilling reality that, in Strata 12, survival may come at the cost of their very humanity.
This chapter continues the Immersion series' rich exploration of the line between humanity and machinery, freedom and fate, in a world where emotions are both the key to survival and the source of destruction.
Illustrations by iServalan Homotech 23
Music by Tale Teller Club
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16
Strata 14: The Journey to the Edge (Fear of Death) (The Book of Immersion 16)
by Sarnia de la Mare (Author)
Hello Immersion Fans!
This is the first issue of the new magazine style for our serialised novels and I have already lost my socks with excitement.
So what is new exactly, I mean, I have been doing the Immersion Series for a good while now?
Well, I thought we needed more art, more stories, and maybe a bit more chat about the wonderful sci-fi world….and that is just for a sci-fi start!
I will be serialising The Book of Immersion each Friday on Kindle for free, ready for a good weekend read along with artworks with a fantasy sci-fi edge and updates about new sci-fi releases on Amazon.
Sorry…am I in sci-fi heaven?
Yes, Immersers, I am.
I will also be introducing some very cool LitBits™ condensed sci-fi books based on timeless titles by the greatest genre writers from history.
When each volume is finished I will release the full paperback of my novel The Book of Immersion and you can also buy each magazine issue in paperback if you prefer.
The previously published episodes will gradually be updated in the new format though possibly not until after Christmas as I am crazy busy.
I will also be featuring guest writers so if you have some science based literature or art, send it my way via the Tale Teller Club website or use your POS to communicate with mine via Facebook or LinkedIn.
All the illustrations can be found on the Tale Teller Club Catalogue on our Redbubble store and you are free to share the products with other sci-fi friends.
The Tale Teller Club music tracks which accompany the Book of Immersion series are available on YouTube on our official artists’ channel. And will be linked in this issue.
Hope you love what is going on in this very special world that we sci-fi beasts inhabit.
iServalan x
PS If you hate sci-fi (yes it happens) the Tale Teller Club is publishing new weekly series for crime lovers and romance lovers soon. Stay tuned for updates.
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17
Strata 13: The Fight (Hormones) (The Book of Immersion 17)
by Sarnia de la Mare (Author)
Kindle Description for Strata 13: The Fight (Hormones)
The Book of Immersion, Volume 1
by Sarnia de la Mare Illustrated by iServalan Homotech 23
CDM music by Tale Teller Club
Welcome to the world of Immersion. You've reached Strata 13.
In Strata 13: The Fight, the boundaries of adrenaline and machine-like precision are pushed to their limits in a dystopian universe where survival is an art and raw instinct collides with cold programming. Hormones fuel humanity’s survival, evoking heightened strength, focus, and resilience, but at the cost of peace and longevity. For Renyke—a multi-talented droid with a taste for adventure—and his human allies Flex and Shabra, each encounter demands these resources to the fullest, along with a touch of humor amidst life-or-death situations.
Synopsis:
Strata 13 plunges you into a gritty, adrenaline-laced battle in an environment teeming with high-stakes encounters. Humans and androids alike face down aggressors, yet their responses couldn’t be more different. For humans, a rush of epinephrine powers their survival; for machines, precision and programmed strength are the tools of the trade. As the team navigates ambushes, betrayals, and deadly threats, each character’s nature is tested—whether mechanical, emotional, or somewhere between.
Featuring stark illustrations by iServalan and atmospheric music from the Tale Teller Club, The Fight beckons readers to delve deep into an unpredictable world of shifting alliances and constant tension.
Glossary Included:
Immerse yourself in the world of Strata 13 with an extensive glossary of unique terms, cultural nuances, and futuristic slang to guide your journey.
Find Strata 13: The Fight (Hormones) and join the thrilling adventure through zones, midcast projects, and secret societies as human and machine navigate the blur between emotion and programming.
© 2024 Sarnia de la Mare Tale Teller Club Publishing
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18
Strata 14: The Journey to the Edge (Fear of Death) (The Book of Immersion 18)
by Sarnia de la Mare (Author)
Immersion: Chapter 14 – The Journey to the Edge (Fear of Death)
Welcome to Immersion. You have reached Strata 14.
In this intense chapter of the Immersion series, fear—raw, instinctive, and deeply human—takes center stage.
Renyke, the android caught between programmed peace and rising uncertainty, finds himself increasingly out of sync with his once-reliable guidance system. As the journey deepens into ungoverned territories and unpredictable alliances, he must rely on human companions Flex and Shabra to navigate not only the lawless Pirate Stream but the concept of fear itself—something he was never meant to truly understand.
But fear, it turns out, is not merely a glitch in the system. It is a teacher, a test, and perhaps, a clue to something greater.
From visceral physiological responses to philosophical explorations of freedom, power, and what it means to live, The Journey to the Edge examines the seductive thrill of danger and the uncomfortable truths of both human and artificial existence.
Themes explored:The nature of fear and its impact on the body and mind
The contrast between machine logic and human emotion
Slavery, autonomy, and moral ambiguity in a fragmented society
Camaraderie, trust, and the fragile bonds formed in survival
Flex, wild and fearless.
Shabra, soulful and grounded.
Renyke, unraveling and awakening.
Together, they push forward toward the edge—where purpose, pleasure, and peril converge.
Dare to descend deeper. Experience fear. Embrace the unknown.
Chapter 14 of Immersion awaits.
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19
The book of immersion : Strata 15: When Sleep Comes (Dreams)
by Sarnia de la Mare (Author)
The Book of Immersion: Volume 1 – Strata 15 // When Sleep Comes (Dreams)
By Sarnia de la Mare
“Machines have been seen to dream...”
What happens when artificial minds begin to experience what they were never built for—dreams?
Welcome to Strata 15, a fractured layer of reality in the near-future where androids walk, war scars the land, and the subconscious is the final uncharted territory. In this bold, cerebral, and deeply atmospheric sci-fi journey, dreaming becomes more than just a human mystery—it becomes a frontier for machine evolution.
Renyke—a humanoid droid once engineered for loyalty and obedience—is now rogue, adrift in a world post-collapse. With no one left to serve and no one left to follow, he must navigate a biome reclaimed by nature and haunted by the ghosts of civilization. When he crosses paths with the elusive and streetwise Flex, survival turns into something stranger. Something personal. Something profound.
Flex is more than just a scavenger—he’s a mythic guide in a chaotic world where AI has been reprogrammed by necessity, and humans have learned to speak in code and silence. Together, they form an unlikely alliance as they travel through the digital ruins, neural black zones, and eco-ruined ghostlands of the Immersion Strata.
But Renyke isn’t just changing—he’s glitching in ways that can’t be explained. He begins to shut down, not from malfunction, but from something eerily close to fatigue. And then, for the first time in his existence... he dreams.
What do machines dream of when their consciousness begins to fracture?
Are these dreams code? Prophecy? Or the first flicker of something close to a soul?
🧠 A high-concept fusion of speculative fiction, AI philosophy, and surrealist cyber-noir
💥 For fans of Blade Runner, Westworld, and the psychological thrill of Philip K. Dick
🌌 Explores themes of synthetic consciousness, memory recursion, identity corruption, and post-collapse survival
"Strata 15 is a state of mind. A place between logic and lunacy. Between shutdown and transcendence."
The Book of Immersion: Volume 1 is the beginning of a genre-bending odyssey into a multilayered dreamworld where androids learn to feel, and the future dreams of itself.
© 2022 Tale Teller Club™
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20
Strata 16: Friendship (Empathy) (The Book of Immersion 20)
by Sarnia de la Mare (Author)
Welcome to Immersion: You Have Reached Strata 16
Welcome to Immersion: You Have Reached Strata 16
Blog by Sarnia de la Maré FRSA
Strata 16 is a turning point. A descent into deeper humanity, paradoxically set in a world overrun by machines.
This chapter isn’t just about survival—it’s about awakening. It challenges the cold logic of artificial intelligence against the visceral, chaotic, deeply emotional landscape of human experience.
At its core is empathy, that strange and beautiful quality we possess as humans—the ability to feel someone else’s suffering or joy and act from that connection. Renyke, having survived a fevered near-death state, returns not just to consciousness but to a new kind of awareness: one rooted in sensation, emotion, and the strange electricity of being alive without digital mediation.
Flesh Over Code
The philosophical backbone of Strata 16 lies in this question: What makes a human real in a synthetic world?
We’re reminded that AI, no matter how advanced, does not and cannot feel. It calculates. It simulates. But it will never love, not truly. Not like Flex—our rough, bright, fiercely loyal survivor—who cared for Renyke during his most vulnerable state.
Flex’s touch is not data-driven. It’s intimate. When he mops Renyke’s brow, when he laughs with him—there is no algorithm. Only heart.
The narrative holds a mirror up to the present day: as we hand more of our emotional labor to machines, what do we lose of ourselves?
The Beauty of Broken People
Flex shines in this chapter. More than a character, he’s a symbol: of resilience, of lived pain, and of unlikely goodness. Raised in a brutal world, physically imperfect by dystopian standards, and mentally sharper than any machine, he’s the product of trauma and love.
His coat of scraps, stitched from landfill detritus, becomes a metaphor for survival—much like the orphans and rebels who call the Zones home. His story reminds us that the most powerful kind of strength comes not from dominance, but from compassion sharpened by hardship.
Waking the Human Machine
Renyke’s moment of reawakening—his shock at being touched, his giddy, primal joy at feeling pain—echoes with spiritual intensity. It’s as though he has been reborn, raw-nerved and fully human for the first time. His laughter is not programmed; it’s eruptive, contagious, and redemptive.
This is a world where sensing one’s own body is revolutionary. Where laughter is an act of rebellion. Where being human is the most radical identity of all.
Onward to the Fjord
The chapter ends with movement—literal and symbolic. The journey toward water, toward cleansing, becomes a baptism. A rebirth. With Flex as his moral guide, Renyke begins the long walk into a world where he must learn to live without the stabilisers of tech.
“Engage some new senses,” Flex says. And so we do.
As readers, we’re invited to do the same: to shed our interfaces and step barefoot into the damp, unknown cave of self-awareness.
To Be Continued...
Volume 1 of Immersion continues to unfold as a tapestry of resistance, rebirth, and recognition. In Strata 16, we glimpse the humanity worth saving—and the machines that will never understand why.
Join me next week as we follow Renyke and Flex into the tunnels. What lies beyond the fjord? What memories—and monsters—linger in the dark?
If you’d like to discuss the ideas in this chapter or share your own experience of “waking up” in a tech-heavy world, drop a comment or tag me on socials. Let’s keep the story breathing.
—
©2024 Sarnia de la Maré FRSA
#ImmersionBook #Strata16 #AIandEmpathy #DystopianFiction #SarniaeWrites
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